Paper shot-shell.



Patented J m: 24, 1913.

with black powders which did' not develop pressures great enough to cause the paper to inwhich the reinforcing threads are ar- -which a "short tube of paper .is inserted at UNITED STATES" PATENT oFFion.

THOMIAS C. JOHNSON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS 00., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

PAPER SHOT-SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24,;i91'3.

Application filed January 14, 1913. Serial No. 741,919.

17 b all whom it may conccrm' Be it known that I, TnoMAs C. JonNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper Shot- Shells; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this applicatiomand represent, in

Figure 1 a-view in central longitudinal section of a paper shot-shell constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 a broken perspective view showing a section of paper shot-shell tube paper in which reinforcing threads have been embedded. F ig. 3 a broken sectional .view on the line a'b of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 a perspective view of a fragment of paper shot-shell tube paper ranged diagonally. Fig. 5 a sectional view of a modified form of reinforced paper shotshell paper in which the reinforcing threads are localized.

My invention relates to an improvement in paper shot-shells in the manufacture of one end into a drawn sheet metal cap and fixed therein by the outward pressure of a paper base-wad consisting of a coil of paper condensed under great pressure after its in troduction into the'tube. Paper shot shells so made were loaded for a. great many years cut off at th mouth of the metal cap to explain, isthe termgenerally used by the consumer to describe the separation of the projecting forward end of thepaper tube extracted therefrom, entailing delay and an noyance, since special means must then be resorted to to remove the cutoff ortion of" the tube from the cartridge-cham er in the gun-barrel. However, sincethe public began between fifteen and twenty years a o to .stant of firing when the shell is, in the carintimate contact with the walls of; the carv breech-closure, the pressures developed by 1 oil of the aper along'the etige or mouth of any extent. Th term t cut-off, I may here f I paper projecting beyond the edge or mouth i of the cap has at this time been forced into intimate contact withfthe walls of the carfrom that portion of it within the cap when demand the loading of the aper shot 8 el s, with smokeless powders? developing big pressure, cut-offs have been source of trouble and annoyance to all users of papershot shell ammunition. 'lhe'difiiciilty has] seemed largely beyond control, and to vary with the seasons and atmospheric} changes, as well as with the intrinsic character ofthe paper employed in the producti n of the tubes, the character of the wet rproofing material used, the age of the shell", the character and hygroscopic condition of the powder used, etc.

A great variety of e-Xpedient have been adopted by makers of. paper shellfam'munition to eliminate cut-offs fotwhich different reasons have been v'anced by different experts. The whole lf question is made difficult of eXplanation-ja-nd solution by the fact that cut-offs take place at the in,

tridge-chamber of the gun-barlleland therefore where it cannot be observed. It seems clear, however, that at" the inoment of firing the paper and metallicportio hs of the shell are diametrically 'expandedxand' forced into.

tridge-chamber in the gun-barrel. If both the paper tube and metal cap" should at this time be held against any longitudinal-movement whatsoever, except lon itudinal movement together, it would appear that cut 'oifs 8 would not take place. Hdwever,'"in case at the time of firing there islany unoccupied space, however small, betwden the head of the cap and the front endl or face of the the ignition of the powder ,wvill set the cap -back into contact with the breech-closure.-

This. results in the te'aring away or cutting the cap r the reason that the exposed tridge chamber and so firmly held there by 1 v Ithe force of explosion that it cannot move 9 the result that the forward end of t e tube is rearward with the cap-tolwhich'it's inner end is fastened. A great variety" of expeor dients have been, as aforesaid, employed preventing cut-offs, but thus far-they, have. been only measurably successful.

The objectof my inventionis to produce a paper shot-shell which will not be affected, so far as cut-offs are'concerned, by a e or atmospheric variations, and which wil reduce cut-oil's a) a negligible percentage.

lVith these ends in view, my invention consists in a paper shot-shell comprisinga paper tube, a sheet-metal cap and a condensed base-wad, the paper tube being provided with reinforcing strands located at the mouth of the metal-cap and extending forward and rearward of the edge thereof.

My invention further consists in a paper shot shell comprising a paper tube, a sheet metal cap, and a condensed base-wad, the paper of the tube being furnished through out its length withembedded reinforcing strands.

My invent-ion further consists in a paper shot-shell having certain details of construction as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I embed in any of the ways understood by paper manufacturers, threads 2 of silk, linen or other strong fiber, in the sheets of paper 3 especially manufactured for be ing coiled into tubes to be subsequently cut up into paper-cartridge shell lengths. The threads 2 may be arranged longitudinally with respect to the axis of the shell, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or they may be arranged diagonally as shown in Fig. 4, or in any other way which will accomplish the desired result. A sheet of paper so reinforced by threads 2 is coiled in the usual manner upon a mandrel into a tube and cut up into papercartridge shell lengths one of which forms what is known as the paper tube 5 of a paper shot shell. This tube is inserted at one end into a drawn sheet-metal cap 6 the depth of which may be varied within a considerable range, but the form of which will remain the same. For fastening the tube 5 in the metal cap 6, a coil of soft paper is introduced into the tube 5 and cap 6 and sub jected therein to tremendous pressure for its condensation into a so called base-wad, whereby the paper of the coil is caused, as it were, to flow outward against that por tion of the tube 5 lying between the coil 7 and the cap 6 whereby the tube 5 is fastened to the cap, especially by the forcing of the OXU'GH'IQ inner end of the tube into the hollow rim 8 of the cap as clearly shown in .As shown, the reinforcing threads 2 extend throughou the entire length of the tube 5 and strengthenit particularly against all longitudinal strains. Included in this strengthening of the tube s of course that portion of the tube extending inward and outward with respect to the edge 9 forming the mouth of the cap. This strengthening of the paper tube in front of and in rear of the edge 9 of the metal cap 6, is of paramount importance since it is at this point that cut-offs occur, owing apparently to the enforced rearward movement of the metal cap away from the body of the tube at a time when the same is so pressed against ,the walls of the cartridge-chamber of the gun-barrel that it cannot respond to the pull of the cap and mo$e rearward therewith.

While I consider it advantageous and preferable to have the threads 2 extend throughout the length of the paper tube, cut-ofis will be reduced to a negligible percentage by the localization of the reinforcing threads in those portions of the tube lying on both sides of the edge 9 ofthe metal cap as shown in Fig. 5.

In the particular shot shell chosen for illustration, a sheet-metal'reinforce 10 is employed for strengthening the 'p and preventing the rearward escape of fiie gases developed by explosion, but this is not, of course, essential to my present invention. The shot shell shown is also provided with a primer 11 which may be of any approved construction.

I claim As a new article of manufacture, a paper shot-shell comprising a paper tube, aflanged metal cap and a base-wad, and longitudinally arranged reinforcing fibers embedded in the paper of the tube and extending from the rear end thereof to a point in front of the edge of the cap when the tube is positioned therein, the said wad being condensed under pressure and forced outward to pinch the inner end of the tube between the wad and the cap, and to force the inner edge of the tube into the flange of the cap, whereby the inner ends of the fibers are anchored in the flange of the cap, and whereby the forward portions of the fibers by extending beyond the edge of the cap, prevent the tube from being cut off along the edge of the cap.

In testimony whereof, I have signed thi specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS C. JOHNSON.

Vi tnesses FRANK A. PAL-L, DANIEL H. VEADER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of JEatents Washington, D. C. 

